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Daniel Spencer/Facebook; Justin Wilt/Facebook

13-Year-Old Dies of Overdose Attempting the TikTok Benadryl Challenge; Parents Warn Others

A 13-year-old boy from Ohio died while trying to complete a viral TikTok challenge with his friends.
Daniel Spencer/Facebook; Justin Wilt/Facebook
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Jacob Stevens overdosed on the over-the-counter allergy medicine Benadryl while recording the challenge at home, and he started to have a seizure, per ABC 6.
The boy’s parents are using his story to warn others and calling for parents to pay attention to what their kids are doing on their phones.
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The boy’s father, Justin Stevens, is also trying to influence lawmakers to set age restrictions for buying medications like Benadryl and calling for better restrictions on social media platforms such as TikTok, the news outlet reported.
Although not every challenge on TikTok is potentially dangerous, this is not the first time a young person has been harmed in a challenge on the social media platform.
Daniel Spencer/Facebook; Justin Wilt/Facebook
THE TIKTOK CHALLENGE WAS MEANT TO CAUSE A HALLUCINATION, BUT LIKE SO MANY OTHER TIKTOK CHALLENGES, IT SADLY TOOK A TURN FOR THE WORST.
"I’m going to do anything I can to make sure another child doesn’t go through it," said Jacob’s grandmother, Dianna Stevens, according to ABC 6. The family then received the devastating news that Jacob wouldn’t wake up.
THE TEEN BOY WAS ON A VENTILATOR FOR A WEEK BEFORE HE DIED.
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Daniel Spencer/Facebook; Justin Wilt/Facebook
“No brain scan, there was nothing there. They said we could keep him on the vent, that he could lay there but he will never open his eyes, he’ll never breathe, smile, walk or talk," Justin Stevens said, according to the New York Post.
“It didn’t matter how bad of a day I was having no one could make me smile, Jacob could make me smile," he shared, according to ABC 6.
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THE YOUNG TEEN WILL BE MISSED BY HIS FAMILY AND COMMUNITY.
Jacob Stevens played football at Greenfield School and is described by his parents as a funny, loving, and well-mannered kid, the news outlet reported.
“We have prayed and prayed for a miracle and that we would be able to bring Jacob home. No mother should have to say goodbye to their baby! "This is so heartbreaking and I have no words to comfort her. Please, anything will help."
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"Keep an eye at what they're doing on that phone. Talk to them about the situation. I want everyone to know about my son," Justin Stevens said, according to ABC 6.

THE BOY’S FATHER IS USING HIS STORY TO WARN OTHERS AND CALLING FOR CHANGE FROM LAWMAKERS AND SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS.
A funeral for Jacob Stevens will be held next week at Summers Funeral Home in Washington Court House, Ohio, per the GoFundMe page.
Daniel Spencer/Facebook; Justin Wilt/Facebook